Above is a music video I just shot down in the Big Easy for my song “Die In New Orleans,” which is on my upcoming release, “Fleur De Lis.” We filmed it mostly in the St. Louis Cemetery one afternoon back in October just as I got off tour with Norah Jones. How Rick Kaplan got the permission to film in the cemetery I’ll never know, but then such are the mysteries of guardian angels which Rick has totally proven to be.

I didn’t know Rick at all when I began this process of raising money to make the record. First came his donation. And then a note asking of I was interested in him documenting the proceedings. After some initial trepidation, we finally got together and he has proven to be one of the most talented artists I have ever had the pleasure of working with. What a director!

His wife Danielle, an exceptional photographer, also contributed photos for the CD package and the two of them have instilled me with a certain faith in the modern age of independent record making.

Anyway, I don’t want to build it up any more than that. I just hope you dig the video as much as I do. We had such fun making it.

And for those of you who haven’t been updated: “Fleur De Lis,” HAS arrived! Those who pre-ordered already have the new sounds in their hot little hands. The record will be released to the general public via I-Tunes and Amazon on Mardi Gras Day, which is February 12th, 2013. However, if you want to pre-order or contribute now in any way, you can still do so here.

I have already raised close to $14.5K, which I am so grateful for, but all together with pressing and everything, the bills come closer to 18K. I will send two free downloads of previously unreleased material to you if you respond to this email by December 18th.

“Fleur” is my first effort playing mostly piano and it also features some truly special New Orleans musicians including Jon Cleary, Johnny Vidacovich, Terrence Higgins, and Phil DeGruy, among others.

I’m heading into the studio March 25th to make my new album. The working title is “Fleur de Lis” and will include 11 songs I’ve written while residing in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans since October of 2010. It has been a transformative experience for me down here in the gulf and I’m looking forward to the chance to express some of that in the music.

Brad Jones, who produced my albums “Slow New York,” “Good Life,” & “Smash Palace” will return to the helm, and the record will feature some truly special New Orleans musicians including Johnny Vidacovich (Professor Longhair, James Booker, Astral Project) and Terrence Higgins (Dirty Dozen Brass Band) on drums as well as Jon Cleary (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal) on keys and guitar.

Oh and….

There Will Be Horns! This is New Orleans!!!

Like a growing number of artists, I’m looking to my fans, rather than a record company, to help produce this record.

By simply pre-ordering the CD, you can get the album before anyone else (oh yes!) — AND you’ll be helping me fund it – so thank you!!

OR….If you want to play a bigger part in helping to create “Fleur De Lis” you can choose your speed below — and get personal gifts direct from me to you for your support as well as my most humble thanks. It costs a lot to make, release, and promote a record and the more I am able to raise, the more I can create touring and promotion opportunities to help give the music the proper attention!

Below, you can choose what “part” you want to play in the making of the record. Keep in mind I’ll start recording this spring and aim to have it finished by September. Delivery of CDs and redemption of gifts to follow!

IMPORTANT! Be sure to include your name, address, email, and the name of the person the CD should be signed to (if included) with your order. If you prefer to pay by check or money order, scroll to the bottom of this email for the address.

THE BIG EASY– $20 – Get the new CD weeks ahead of the slowpokes. (Shipping included)

STEAMBOAT CAPTAIN – $500 – All of the above, plus you will be on the guest list for all performances for one year.

THE OYSTER PEARL – $1,000 – Got Skype or Ustream? Custom-order a personal concert online with me. I’ll play a bunch of songs and hang out with you and your friends in cyberspace face-to-face. And I’ll teach you how to blend the perfect margarita.

THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE – $2,500 – House Concert. Invite your friends over (or don’t!) and let me entertain you in your own living room. (Flight costs not included, but I will keep you posted on my travel schedule so we can book this at our mutual convenience)

THE EVANGELINE – $4,000 – House Concert With Margaritas and CD’s- Invite your friends over (or don’t!) & let me entertain you in your own living room. I’ll make (and teach you the secrets of making my world-famous signature) fresh lime margaritas. And 20 CD’s for your guests! (Flight costs not included, but I will keep you posted on my travel schedule so we can book this at our mutual convenience)

CRESCENT CITY CURATOR – $5,000 – Executive Producer credit on the album, plus everything included in the first four levels.

COMMANDER’S PALACE – $10,000 – ONLY ONE AVAILABLE. Sit in with me and Brad Jones on the mastering session of the record at Yes Master Studios in Nashville, TN. We’ll go to dinner and celebrate afterwards, and I’ll entrust to you my Taylor 710 Acoustic guitar, which I used in the recording of “Good Life,” “Slow New York” as well as tours with The Little Willies, etc. The guitar has traveled three continents and is in great working order. A lot of memories, music, AND mojo! A house concert is also included with the Commander’s Palace as well as everything listed in the first four levels. (Travel and lodging expenses to Nashville are the responsibility of the “winner” of this premium.)

Hope the autumn is treating you well wherever you are. Especially, I hope those of you here in NY made it through the last few weeks of turmoil in tact!

The band and I were scheduled to perform the week of Hurricane Sandy which of course was cancelled. We started making plans to go into Manhattan anyway and just play out there in the dark on the street, but alas, you would need some gas to get there, wouldn’t you!? Anyway, that gig is rescheduled for THIS Saturday, November 17th! 8pm. Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2. Hope to see you there!

And now on to the main topic!

“Fleur De Lis,” my new record, which many of you contributed to, has arrived! If you pre-ordered or contributed in any other way, it is on it’s way to you now! I am so thrilled with how it turned out. It’s my first effort playing mostly piano and some truly special New Orleans musicians are featured, including Jon Cleary, Johnny Vidacovich, Terrence Higgins, and Phil DeGruy. I’m aiming to release it to everyone else on Mardi Gras! That’s Tuesday, February 12th.

Meanwhile, if you still want to pre-order or contribute in any way, you can still do so here! I have already raised close to $14.5K, which is AMAZING, but all together with pressing and everything, the bills come closer to 18K. I would also like to promote it once it is out so believe me, it won’t go to waste! I will send you two free downloads upon receipt of pre-orders. The photo above is a still from a video I just shot for a song on the album called “Die In New Orleans.” Rick Kaplan directed it and I can’t wait to show it to you!

And for those of you who live across the pond, I will be touring in Europe this December starting in Italy on December 1st. Especially looking forward to the dates in Switzerland since Tim Luntzel and Dan Rieser will join me there. Our first time in that neck of the woods! Details below.

Hope all is well in your world. As for me, fatherhood is treating me well. Dude is just a little buddha. He is chilling next to me now as I write.

Dunno what happened, but October got BUSY! I will be in TX and Louisiana with Norah Jones, Kentucky for a house concert, and back in NYC and Upstate NY with my band. More on all that in a moment, but first, an update on “Fleur De Lis!”

The record, at last, is in production! I will be sending out pre-orders in only a couple of weeks and I am so thrilled to share it with you. The fundraising is at $14,000 and counting! There is still time to pre-order if you’d like to be a part. To donate at any level or to learn more, click here. My goal is to meet all my bills which amount roughly to 18K. If you pre-order now, I will send you some new music to download right away, including a sneak-preview of one of the tracks.

I am shooting to have the record available to the rest of the universe (I-Tunes / Amazon) by January.

Meanwhile, I am chomping at the bit to get down to Texas and Louisiana in a couple of weeks to open for my old friend Norah Jones who is touring behind a fresh new album with a brilliant band. We will play Austin, Dallas, Houston and….(drum roll please) NEW ORLEANS! Yes I will be back!

And so long as I’m in NOLA, I’m gonna play a longer set with a band at Chickie Wah Wah on the 24th. Terence Higgins and Jason Jurzak on drums and sousaphone. Both of those guys play on Fleur De Lis and suffice to say, we will be playing that album. I hope you can make it.

And for those of you feeling this autumn chill in the Northeast, i will be out with my band in Marlboro, NY at the Falcon and also at the Rockwood in NYC at the top of November. Details at www.richardjulian.com/events

Hope your summer has been sweet! After a maelstrom of Spring touring and travel, I think I’ve had the most stationary July and August on record. Still parked in Brooklyn with Rosita expecting our first child. Looks like we have a real laid back type on our hands. Meanwhile, I have some gigs coming up and I also wanted to give you an update on my new record, “Fleur De Lis.”

Fundraising for the record has gone very well. I’m somewhere around 11.5K with two fundraising house concerts – one in NYC and one in Louisville, KY – coming to the rescue! The record has been mastered and the artwork is close to completion. I hope to have it out to those of you who have donated by early October and to make it available to the rest of the universe by years end!

If you are interested in attending one of the house concerts, please write me for details at RichardJulian2@Aol.com. The few I have done thus far have been a blast. I make margaritas. There’s food. And of course, MUSIC!

Or if you’d like to simply pre-order “Fleur De Lis,” or donate at any other level, click here. I will send you some new music to download right away, including a sneak-preview of one of the tracks. Above is a video which explains some of what the record is about. Enjoy!

Also, Next Saturday, September 8th, Rob Jost will join the band on bass at The Rockwood Music Hall. Extended Set. J. Walter Hawkes will be blowing trombone as well and he and I will play duo the next day, Sunday, in Long Island City.

And last but not least, I will be playing some solo dates down south in October opening for Norah Jones. And yes we will be swinging through New Orleans!!!!! See below for details.

Hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am! As for me, I’ve been parked in Brooklyn with Rosita expecting our first child. These are sweet times.

Fundraising for “Fleur De Lis” has been going amazingly well. I just added it all up this morning and we have crossed the 11K mark! That’s a lot of love! There have been 191 pledges which means that the average pledge has been $57.93. Is this an important statistic? Probably not, but I wanted to prove that right brained guys such as myself can crunch numbers and sound official.

Over the last month, a few people really stepped up to the plate and some very successful fundraising house concerts ensued. One in Philadelphia, one in Arden, Delaware, and this past weekend in Annapolis, Maryland. Thank you Jim Goodman, Terri Hansen, Drew Hansen, Valerie Cherrin, Michelle Lauer, Elisa Infante, Jessie Infante, Bryan Ewald, and Mark Freeman.

It was as much fun blending margaritas for everyone as it was to play the music. I hope those of you in Annapolis weren’t hurting TOO bad the next day. I cut out early.

Anyway, amzingly I’m catching up with my expenses thus far, but I still have a ways to go. There is artwork, manufacturing, and some unpaid production bills left and I still need to raise roughly 7K.

There will be a house concert in NYC this September, and one in Louisville, KY this October and those should put us closer to the goal. If any of you would like to put on an event like this, please write me at RichardJulian@aol.com. They have been really fun.

Or if you’d like to simply pre-order “Fleur De Lis,” or learn how to donate at any other level, click here for details or just scroll below.

And last but not least, I will be with the band in NYC this Sunday! Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2. Extended Set. The mighty J. Walter Hawkes will be blowing trombone along side Tim, Dan and myself. Details below. Hope to see you there!

Cheers,

Richard

P.S. And yet another fun video from my guardian angel, Rick Kaplan, below. Rick and I are gonna have to make some other videos together. I’m loving his sense of style and humor.